The New England Patriots were a few plays away from earning their fourth Super Bowl trophy in an 11-year span. But now, just like the rest of the league, they're back to square one and start fresh with a 0-0 record. 

Even with all the success they experienced in 2011, they'll still be looking for a few good men to step up and break out in 2012 to help this team get over the hump. This applies to both the second-ranked offense and the 31st-ranked defense.

But which players are most poised for a breakout season? Which players could surprise you with their production? 

Check out the video above, where lead writer Josh Zerkle and I go back-and-forth on the subject with our own candidates on offense and defense.